Hugh McFadyen, the leading proponent for disrupting on of the world's greatest intact forests with a hydro line, was short on facts and ran from questions on Tuesday.

Responding to questions about the Manitoba budget in the legislature on Tuesday, Hugh McFadyen brought up Bipole 3, although it has nothing to do with this year's budget. Wilderness Committee Director Eric Reder quickly jumped in to ask questions about the PC party's recently released Bipole III map and plans to run Bipole 3 through the Heart of the Boreal. At first, Mr. McFadyen did not answer the question, and suddenly Eric's map was ripped from his hand and one of Mr. McFadyen's staff members physically dragged Eric backwards out of the huddle. Concerned individuals, shocked at this aggressive violence, quickly jumped in to defend Eric, and ensured the staff member, who at this point was swearing at Eric, could not interfere with Eric's attempt to have Mr. McFadyen answer questions. After waiting for another opportunity, Eric was finally able to get Mr. McFadyen to look at the copy of the PC Caucus publication which showed the PC route the hydro line would take through the East Side. Below is the transcript of the conversation:

ER: We have you drawing a Hydro line across every single First Nation on the East Side that says they want their traditional territories protected.

HM: That's actually not correct.

ER: Can you show me which ones you're not drawing across?

HM: Yeah, virtually all of them down the east shore.

ER: But you're going across Poplar River First Nation territory. That's actually protected land.

HM: No, it actually doesn't touch Poplar River.

ER: This map does, and it actually goes across Atikaki provincial park which is protected land. And it goes across Manigotagan River provincial park which is protected land. How do you explain that?

HM: The west side route is going through Riding Mountain National Park

ER: The west side route is not going through Riding Mountain National Park

HM: Well that's one of the…

ER: No, it's not and it never was

HM: Its going through the Riding Mountain UNESCO reserve.

ER: See, what we have here is the other map, that shows the largest intact forest in the Northern hemisphere

HM: And the westside line cuts through 50 kilometers more of it than the east side line

ER: Look at the westside, there is not a single piece of intact forest

Unfortunately, at this point Mr. McFadyen did not look at the intact forests map, but chose to run away from further questions.

"I want an explanation of the half-truths and outright lies Manitobans are being fed," said Eric Reder, who was visibly shaken after the altercation. "One of his media people kept telling me I'd get my chance to ask a question later, and not to ask the question now. She must have said it three times. And then instead, he runs away."

After Mr. McFadyen left, the PC staff member who had assaulted Eric denied he was a PC person, tried to infer he was helping out a CBC cameraman, and refused to give his name.

"I didn't even get chance to ask Mr. McFadyen about the Bipole III money issue that he keeps talking about, and that he is a supposed expert on," said Eric. "This perfectly illustrates why a bunch of environmental organizations got together to create a new website, heartoftheboreal.ca. People are not being given facts, and not the full facts. Manitobans deserve better than to be lied to by their elected officials. I suppose the Wilderness Committee will have to keep seeking out public opportunities to ask these questions of Mr. McFadyen...and I guess we'd better bring our own security."